We're forced to live like prisoners in our own homes as thick dust from building site next door is trashing everything | The Sun
IRRITATED residents living next to a building site say they have been forced to "live like prisoners" in their own homes for more than a year.
They claim thick dust has spilled onto their properties so badly they can't hang washing outside and their cars are covered in the powder.
One couple also complained of workmen urinating against their garden wall, which backs onto the site in Bristol, and using their address as a drop-off for their fast food deliveries.
The residents, who have lived there for more than 40 years, say they’ve simply "had enough".
The husband, who is retired, said: "This used to be such a lovely, peaceful place to live, but ever since this outfit first broke ground more than a year ago our lives have been a nightmare.
"We’re basically living on a building site."
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The pensioner, who wished to remain anonymous, said that at one point the dust was so thick he and his wife couldn't leave the house.
"It got in your lungs when you breathed and it covered everything," he added.
"We stopped hanging our washing out to dry because our clothes were covered in the stuff in seconds.
"We’ve felt like prisoners in our own home.
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"Even though we keep the windows and doors shut now, the dust still gets in through the cracks and leaves a horrible grey coating over everything.
"It gets all over the bedding and furniture. It’s really unhealthy to have to live with this."
His wife, who is in her 70s and also asked not to be named, said that on several occasions she looked out of her window and saw builders using her garden as a toilet.
"It’s just disgusting and we shouldn’t be having to put up with it. It's been a living hell for us," she added.
"We’ve had to deal with so much, even from first thing in the morning when they turn the noisy generator on just after 7am.
"Then there’s the constant shouting and swearing coming from the site.
"They even use our address to get their meals delivered by fast food companies.
"The couriers come to our front door and ring the bell. It’s such a cheek."
Construction of the four three-storey properties by Lake House Construction Ltd began in July 2021 and had been due to be completed last month, but they are currently only half-built.
Locals fear the chaos could continue for at least another 12 months.
One resident close to the site said: "They should have been finished by now but they've only got the ground floor done at each property.
"There's still the upper level and the roofing to be done, but we just have to suck it up.
"The workmen block our driveways with their vehicles, as do the delivery lorries when building materials are delivered.
"It’s been awful."
Others worry more damage will be done to their homes as the contractors "don't care about the neighbouring households".
The senior couple allege a digger smashed against their garden wall, leaving them no choice but to tear it down.
And when a party wall in their garden was removed by mutual agreement with the landowner, their rockery and a metre of their lawn allegedly collapsed due to the drop in levels.
We shouldn’t be having to put up with it. It's been a living hell for us.
The husband, who also claims builders' vehicles are "always" parked on yellow lines and across his drive, said: "We agreed to the wall coming down but we didn’t agree to losing part of our garden with it.
"It’s an eyesore now and we don’t yet know if or how they’re going to put the missing part of our garden and rockery back.
"We’ve complained to the local council until we’re blue in the face but they do nothing about it as they say it's a civil matter and they can't get involved."
Meanwhile another local, whose garden backs onto the site, claims their wooden fence was destroyed amid the building work.
"They piled up huge mounds of earth against it on their side for a considerable amount of time," they said.
"When I complained to the owner of the construction company carrying out the work, he was extremely rude.
"I threatened to call the police about it and he was quite glib in his response, telling me – 'Please go ahead'."
When confronted by The Sun, the director of Lake House Construction Ltd demanded to see evidence of the neighbours' claims.
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After being told of photographs and videos to support the allegations, he declined to comment.
A Bristol City Council spokesperson said: "Our planning enforcement team have received no complaints at this stage, but if we do, we will investigate."
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